RRAPID Flashcards
What are the signs of acute severe asthma ?
- use of accessory muscles
- wheeze
What are the features of acute severe asthma ?
- inability to complete sentences in one breath
- respiratory rate >25
- HR > 110
- PEFR 33-50% of expected
Features of life threatening asthma attack ?
- altered conscious level
- exhaustion/poor respiratory effort
- silent chest
- PEFR
Features of near fatal asthma attack ?
Raised PaCO2/ requiring mechanical ventilation with raised pressures
What is the initial response in a severe acute asthma attack ?
O SHIT
- oxygen: 15L non rebreath mask
- salbutamol - 5mg nebs every 15/20 mins if PEFR
What investigations do you send for in acute severe asthma ?.
- (IV access) bloods- FBC, U&Es, glucose ~CRP, Blood and sputum cultures if sepsis suspected
- ABG (sats
What are the symptoms of an acute exacerbation of COPD ?
- increasing cough
- reduced exercise tolerance
What are the signs of an acute exacerbation of COPD ?
- use of accessory muscle
- tachypnoea
- cyanosis
- wheeze
What drug treatment would be administered in an acute exacerbation of COPD ?
- Oxygen (controlled, aim for sats 88-92%) - adjust O2 with Venturi mask, but in emergency 15L non rebreath first then titration down when reassess
- Salbutamol 5mg neb
- hydrocortisone 200mg IV/prednisolone 40mg PO
- ipratropium bromide neb
*antibiotics if evidence of infections (empirical- broad spec) e.g. Amoxicillin
What investigation should you request in an acute exacerbation of COPD ?
- bloods- FBC, U&Es, glucose
- consider blood and sputum cultures if sepsis suspected
- ABG (decreased PaO2, raised PaCO2 and raised bicarbonate if chronic disease)
- CXR to exclude pneumothorax/infection
- ECG (may show cor pulmonale)
If there is no response to nebuliser bronchodilators, oxygen and steroids what should be done next in an acute exacerbation of COPD ?
Non invasive, positive pressure ventilation
- if RR > 30, pH
What are the features of a pneumothorax ?
- SOB, sudden onset
- pleuritic chest pain
- unilateral reduced chest expansion
- unilateral deceased breath sounds
- unilateral hyper resonance to percussion
- CXR confirmation
What are the features of a tension pneumothorax ?
all same signs of pneumothorax (SOB, pleuritic pain, unilateral reduced expansion, decreased breath sounds, hyper resonance) AND:
- hypotension (must be present to make diagnosis of tension pneumothorax)
- tracheal deviation (away from affected side)
- distended neck veins
What is the response to a tension pneumothorax ?
- ABCDE assessment:
- O2 15L/min via reservoir mask
- needle decompression - large bore needle in 2nd intercostal space mid clavicular line
- insertion of chest tube
- DO NOT DELAY MANAGEMENT TO GET CXR*
What are the risk factors for PE ?
- malignancy
- post surgery
- immobility
- oral contraceptive pill
- pregnancy
- previous DVT or PE
- increasing age
- infection
- dehydration
- obesity
- smoking
Symptoms of PE?
- sudden SOB
- pleuritic chest pain
- haemoptysis
- syncope
What imaging technique should be used to confirm PE ?
CT pulmonary angiogram
What drugs are administered in emergency treatment of massive PE ?
- O2 15/L per min via reservoir mask
- morphine (5-10mg IV)with antiemetic (if in pain or very distressed)
- fluid bolus to treat hypotension
- anticoagulant with LMWH e.g. Tinzaparin, enoxaparin
Signs of PE ?
- hypotension, tachycardia (CV collapse)
- gallop rhythm
- raised JVP
- right ventricular heave
- pleural rub
- tachypnoea
- cyanosis
Investigations for PE ?
- U&Es, FBC, baseline clotting
- ECG - commonly normal
- CXR - often normal ~ decreased vascular markings, small pleural effusion, wedge shaped area of infarct
- ABG: hyperventilation and poor gas exchange -> low PaO2 and low PaCO2, pH often raised
- D dimer
- CT pul. Angiogram
What is the definition of status epilepticus ?.
Seizures lasting > 30 mins or repeated seizures without regaining consciousness
Features of status epilepticus ?
- tonic clonic seizure
- non convulsive status is more difficult
- EEG can help confirm diagnosis
If Someone presents with seizures and they are pregnant what us the likely diagnosis ?.
Eclampsia
What investigations should be carried out in status epilepticus ?
- bedside glucose
- bloods: lab glucose, U&Es, FBC, Ca, Mg, LFTs
- ABG
- ECG
- consider anticonvulsant levels, toxicology screen, LP, Blood culture and urine, carbon monoxide level
- EEG
- pulse oximetry, cardiac monitor
What drugs should be administered in status epilepticus ?
- O2 15L/min non rebreath mask
- Lorazepam (repeat after 5 mins if fits continue )
- Phenytoin - if fits continue
- Diazepam
- continued seizures may require anaesthetist sedation
What are the symptoms of acute sever asthma ?
- SOB (dyspnoea)
- cough (often worse at night)
- chest tightness